Humboldt City Council entertained second and third reading on a bylaw that would the potential sale of a parcel of land just east of Caleb Village on Ogilvie Avenue. The city’s intent is to authorize selling the land for a residential multi-unit dwelling in the hopes of attracting a developer.
The land backs onto Glenn Hall Park and serves, in part, as a parking lot for sporting events in the park. An invitation for a public meeting drew no participants, but as the session proceeded into the second reading, council members said that they had been approached by some residents with concerns about the rezoning.
Councillor Sarah McInnis said that a group of twenty or so residents of Caleb Village, a seniors housing complex, approached her about their concerns even though they elected not to attend the council meeting as a delegation. Among the concerns relayed by McInnis were parking overflow onto the street and general lack of space.
Councillor Marilyn Scott also relayed concerns about parking during sporting events and increased foot traffic along the street if the parking land is no longer available. She recognized the need for apartment inventory in the city, but she was cautious about the implications for complications on traffic flow and parking.
City manager Joe Day reminded the council that the decision to subdivide the land had already been made. Discussion among council members ensued as to whether the city was committed to the development in advance of the final two bylaw readings.
Councillor Larry Jorgenson reminded council members that there was not an interested buyer or developer in place at this time.
“We do not currently have a project that’s planning to go there,” Jorgenson said during the discussion. “All we’ve done is that we’ve made the decision a few weeks ago to rezone that property so that it could be sold. This bylaw right now is authorizing the sale of municipal reserve land, to put money away in lieu of dedicating other land. All of the discussions we’re having are great, and I hope we bring them up again if we do decide to sell the property and have a project in mind. At this time, we’re not selling the land, building an apartment, or getting rid of the parking lot tomorrow.”
Following the discussion, the bylaw passed second and third readings, clearing the sale for the property.